Sadat and the Camp David Accords

Sadat had claimed victory at the end
of the Yom Kipper War and had emerged from the war a hero in the eyes of his
fellow Egyptians. With his apparent triumph, Sadat felt more secure politically,
and he lightened up on repression. He granted amnesty to more political prisoners,
lifted some censorship of the press and allowed political parties. War had again
increased support for a fervent Islamism. Sadat made a show of his own religious
devotion, putting himself closer to the feelings of Egypt's traditionally religious
middle class.

Sadat was struggling with Egypt's economy and wished to be rid of the military
costs associated with Arab wars against Israel. He wanted Israel
to give back to Egypt the Sinai – while Israel found the Sinai useful
to its defense. Peace also served Sadat's desire for increased foreign investments.
Sadat sought better relations with the United States. And investments began
to flow into Egypt.

In 1976, Sadat sought to improve his standing with the Muslim Brotherhood. He allowed the brotherhood to publish a monthly magazine, Al-Dawa. The
brotherhood remained illegal but was the main body of Egyptian conservatism.
It still favored Islamic laws over European influences. It was opposed to violence
and had support of those with formal education and in the professions. Violence
was the option of a group called Repentance and Flight from Sin, (Al Taqfir
Wal Higrah), which made news in 1977 by going on a rampage against nightclubs.
The group kidnapped and murdered a former government minister and scholar, Muhammad al-Dhahabi, and the Sadat regime moved against them.

Sadat was no friend of terrorists, and he continued his effort
to improve relations and business ties with the West. In November, 1977, he visited
Israel. Some Egyptians approved, and some did not. On May 26,1979, at Camp David,
Sadat signed an accord with Israel – brokered by President Jimmy Carter. With this,
Egypt gained the return of the Sinai from Israel.

Believing that Israel was an abomination in Islamic territory, the Muslim
Brotherhood saw Sadat's agreement at Camp David as a sellout. Groups throughout
the Arab world called for Sadat's overthrow or assassination. In Egypt,
Sadat began making arrests. He ordered the closing of Al-Dawa, and he
spoke of a "criminal use of religious power to misguide people." The Ayatollah
Khomeini had recently risen to power in Iran, and Sadat told the press not to
fear, that "we will have no Khomeini here."